A group that opposes
dam removal on the Klamath River will not appeal a
ruling that its proposed ballot initiative was
unconstitutional.

The group, Voters
Opposed to Dam Removal, proposed an initiative that
would have asked voters to make it illegal for Klamath
County to financially supportdam removal. Group
members initially said they would appeal the Klamath
County clerk’s ruling that the initiative did not
qualify for the ballot.

Frank Goodson, one
of the group’s chief petitioners, said the group decided
to not proceed with its appeal because the Klamath
County Board of Commissioners decided Tuesday to add an
advisory election to the November ballot that will ask
voters if the county should discontinue participation in
the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement.

The KBRA is tied to
the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement, which
includes the removal of four hydroelectric dams on the
Klamath River.

The advisory
election will poll public opinion, and will not be
legally binding.

The group submitted
a letter to the Board of Commissioners Monday,
requesting that the November ballot include the
following advisory question: “Should the Klamath River
dams be removed as requested in the KBRA (Klamath Basin
Restoration Agreement)?”

The Board of
Commissioners declined the group’s request.

Goodson said group
members might resubmit their original ballot initiative
for the March election if they are not satisfied with
the way the advisory question is worded on the November
ballot.

“We’re just putting
it off until we see what happens,” he said.

A special March
election would cost the county about $50,000, said
Klamath County Clerk Linda Smith.